OUR SATYAM MAMAYYAGARU

OUR SATYAM MAMAYYAGARU

It was 1958. A teenager boy passed SSLC from a village school. There was no further education available there and no possibility of staying in any nearby town. So a big full stop for higher studies was imminent. Then his mother's youngest brother came on a visit from Hyderabad where he was working in the State Secretariat. Being a bachelor in his early twenties, he was staying alone in a single room. One look at the nephew's marksheet and he was impressed with it.  Spontaneously he offered to take the boy under his wing to the surprise of all. After some initial hesitation and apprehension, the parents agreed. It was really a bold step given his own limited resources. But he never looked back. The boy completed PUC, B.Sc., M.Sc. and M.Sc. Tech and got selected as an officer in RBI and after a successful career retired as MD, NABARD. All due to the magnanimous gesture and the  timely helping hand of his unforgettable uncle who is his mentor, guide, godfather, his Satyam Mamayya.

 He is a friendly person and very helpful to colleagues, friends and relatives. He is liked by all around and is very popular with people. Hard working, sincere and dutiful in his job, he retired as Additional Secretary, Finance department, quite a big achievement. He helped many of his nephews and nieces in settling down. He is a devoted religious person and deeply attached to family.

He is Shri Erranki Satyanarayana Murthy, youngest brother of my mother in law, uncle of my husband. After some age related ailments, he passed away on 28th November, 2021. We offer our deepfelt respects and tributes to his memory. We pray for his soul to rest in peace. 

There could be more such kind hearted helping hands in many families around us. Unknown to outsiders like us. I bow my head in reverence before all such Satyam mamayyagarus. Long live such tribe and blessed are those nephews, nieces and friends who are fortunate to have them behind them. And it is their duty in turn to emulate all such good qualities. That is the only fitting tribute.

UGADI

                                                        UGADI

    

She wanted to spend Ugadi as happily and peacefully as possible because she always believed that the whole year will be spent much the same way as one spends Ugadi.

She started the day with a jubilant mood. 

But her maid did not turn up at the usual hour. The kitchen sink was full of dirty dishes as they had guests the previous night.

Then the milkman was late and her morning cup of coffee was delayed, adding to her headache. When she asked her husband to go across to bring the milk, he did not move. On top of that, he lectured on how to handle and manage the maids and milkmen! She restrained from shouting at him. 

Then she asked her teenage daughter to help with the dishes and cooking but she refused and settled before the TV watching some loud music channel. 

Her husband supported her, saying, “Don’t make her work on Ugadi”

She looked at him sharply, and said, “Then why should I? It's Ugadi for me too! Let’s go and eat outside.”

He shuddered. “Are you crazy? Do you want us to eat only junk food the whole year?”

She was furious and wanted to curse the maid and the whole world to her heart’s content. But she controlled herself. ‘Not on this day, no harsh words or ill feelings.’ 

Thus keeping her cool, she went back to dishes, sweeping, washing and cooking, all single handedly.

During lunch they went on passing snide remarks about the taste of the lavish lunch she so painstakingly prepared. Her blood boiled as the food tasted not only okay but delicious to her. But, ‘No, l should not argue or create a scene today.' She thought and kept quiet.

Feeling tired and frustrated, she went to the nearby temple in the evening, in search of peace. But, lo, it was crowded and noisy. The guards were very harsh and almost pushing and dragging the devotees, shouting, “move on, move on quickly.”

She felt disgusted and sat in a lonely spot, brooding. Then she saw a friend approaching. Sensing her mood-out, she enquired, “Why are you so upset? What happened?”

“I wanted to spend this day in an ideal manner.” She sighed. Then she described her day in detail.

Her friend shook her head. “No, no, why should you feel depressed? You spent today in a really good way. You avoided arguing, cursing or hurting the people around you, kept your temper under control, performed all your duties well, treated everyone with goodwill and overall, displayed a positive attitude. What better way is there to spend Ugadi or any day for that matter?”

Her words sounded convincing and soothing. And feeling light, she smiled and said.. 

“HAPPY  UGADI to you and the whole world”

TO MY CHILDREN IN THEIR YOUTH

                       TO  MY  CHILDREN  IN  THEIR  YOUTH
                                   
My  sweet  little  darlings,
The  two apples  of  my  eyes,
When  did  you  grow  up ?
You  gave  me  my  second  childhood  and  the  third,
My  second  teenage  and  the  third,
And  how  I  loved  it !
But, for  my  sweet  second  youth
You  keep  me  waiting  and  waiting.

Do  you  know -

Along  with  you  and  along  with  you  both -
I  reexperienced  my childhood
And  re-lived  my teenage.
Along  with  you  and  along  with  you  both -
I  re-learnt  to  stand  and  walk ;
To  utter  small  sweet  words
in a  language  very  much  unique ;
I  re-learnt  my  A,B,C and  rhymes;
My 1,2,3  and  sums ;
For  the  second  time  and  the  third  time.

Along  with  you - I  
Re-entered  the  wonderland  of  Alice;
Re-discovered  Ridinghood and Cinderella  ;
Cried  and  laughed  with  Snowwhite;
Re-enjoyed  Tarzan and  Sindbad ,
Robinhood  and  Alibaba ;
Re-met  Dennis  and  thanked  God  that
Neither  of you  were  such  a  menace ;
Re-read  Panchtantra  and  Amar  Chitra  Katha .
Oh, how  I enjoyed  and  re-enjoyed all  that !

Along  with  you - but  for  the  first  time -
I  was  introduced  to  many  more  joys
Which I never  knew  existed .
My  first Archie I read  with  you ;
My  first  ghazal I heard  with  you ;
My  first Jackie Chan I saw with you ;
My  first Jackson I listened  with  you ;

You introduced  me -
To  the  melodious  world
Of  Jalotas  and  Hassans ;
To  the  romantic  world
Of  Mills  and  Boons ;
To  the  adventurous  world  of
Heman , Batman and Superman;
To  the  thunderous  world  of
Rock and  Heavy  Metal ;
To  the  action- filled  world  of
Shaolins and  Schwarzneggers
And our own Nanas and Devgans ;

Oh, tiny fragments  of  my  heart  and  soul !
How  grateful  I  am  to  you  both !

For - along  with  you  and  along  with  you
I  learnt  and  learnt ;
Discovered  and  discovered
A whole  new  world  of  fun  and  thrill .

But -

When  did  you  grow  up ?
Where  did  I  lose  you ?
In  the dense and hectic jungles  of  life, or
In  the  perennial  flow  of  time , or
In  the  unending  process  of  

your  growing  up ?
Where  are  the  eager  pupils
And  the  enthusiastic  teachers ?
The  know-nothings  and
The  know-alls  rolled  in  one ?
Where  and  when  did  you  drift  away ?

You  shared  your  childhood  and  teenage  with  me -
Me, the  ever-loving  and  ever-supportive mother ;
But  when  youth  arrived-
Your  youth- oh, your  very  own  youth -
That  invisible wall between  you  and  me
Why did you deprive me
of a sweet second  youth and  a  third?

For- now, at  last -

I  am  at  a  loss  in  your  world-
Your  world  of  youth  and ambition ;
Your  world  of  Computers  and Software,
Derivatives and Securities;

Oh, lights  and  joys  of  my  life !

Did  you  outgrow  me ? or
Did  I  grow old?

BHARATHI"S SEARCH FOR ROOTS

                                     BHARATHI'S  SEARCH  FOR  ROOTS

Bharathi heaved a big sigh of relief. Her final examination was over and now she is free to let her hair loose. She is not worried about the results. She is sure to come out in flying colours. And one month back she secured a decent and high-paying job in a well known MNC. So no need to worry about that either. 

Ever since she started school at the age of three to the just concluded B. Tech. examinations, her time was entirely taken up by studies, studies and more studies. Now she is determined to enjoy life for full three months. Until she joins her first job. 

Her parents approached her. Sridhar has a big envelope in his hand. By one look at their somber faces, she guessed they have something serious to talk to her about. 

She was proved right.

Shanthi cleared her throat. "Bharathi, we want to tell you something important. Now that the exams are out of your mind, listen carefully and with a cool mind."

Bharathi sighed. "Mummy, please give me some time. I am not yet ready for marriage and commitment. Please let me enjoy life for a while....."

Sridhar interrupted her. "No, no, Bharathi. It is not about your marriage or your future. Rather....it is about your past..."

Bharathi was puzzled. Shanthi held her hand reassuringly. Sridhar handed her the envelope he was holdng. "What is this?" She asked. "Open and read. But I tell you, keep a cool mind."

Bharathi opened it apprehensively. 

It is a lengthy document. She started scanning the page cursorily but suddenly she stiffened and started again, this time carefully and meticulously. It was dated some twenty years back and says that Sridhar and Shanthi adopted a baby girl by name Bharathi.

She looked at them puzzled. "It says... does it mean... is it true?.." 

They nodded, scared to open their mouths lest they may break down. "But.. why didn't you tell me? I never had even the faintest idea!" 

Shanthi said in a quivering tone, "We never wanted to tell you, Bharathi, as far as we are concerned, you are our own daughter. But now that you are a grown up adult, we thought you should know. You are entitled to know that. So..." she left her words unfinished.

"Who are my real parents, then?" She asked. Shanthi winced at that. Sridhar patted her hand and said, "We don't know" in reply to his daughter.

Bharathi kept staring at them with wide eyes. Her mind became blank and she did not know how to react or what to say. After a couple of minutes, she sighed and muttering, "Please leave me alone for some time", she ran to her room and closed the door behind her. Shanthi got up, about to follow her but Sridhar stopped her, saying, "Give her some time to digest the harsh reality."

For two days they left her to herself without raising the topic again. Bharathi was struggling to come to terms with the fact. She learnt from the document that she was picked from an orphanage. She started thinking about her real parents. 'Why did they leave me there? Did they resent the birth of a girl child? Or was I an illegitimate child of a careless couple? Who was my mother? Was she an unwed mother and afraid of social stigma? Was she a woman of loose character? Did she know at least who my father was?' 

So many questions and doubts! There is no doubt that her foster parents also are unaware of the answers and they did not bother about the details obviously. She felt immensely grateful to them. Frankly they never gave her any scope for her to doubt their parentage. They showered so much love and affection on her. Still...she felt uneasy.

Finally she made up her mind and approached her parents. "Daddy, I want to know about my real parents" She said.

Sridhar looked at her. "We told you we don't know, Bharathi, we just visited the orphanage and brought you home."

"I guessed that much, daddy. But I want to know my roots."

Shanthi looked at her apprehensively. "But how? Why? Why do you want to know? What do you want to do? Is it necessary or important? Are you not happy here?"

Bharathi looked at them pleadingly. "Please, mummy, don't misunderstand me. I am very happy and this is the only home I know. Still, I am just restless thinking about all that. I just want to know to satisfy my curiosity. That's all. I don't know how. I will start by enquiring at the orphanage. I am not even sure whether I will succeed or not. Please allow me to try at least." 

"You will come back to us, right? You will never leave us, will you?..." Her voice almost choked with emotion. Bharathi smiled reassuringly. "Don't ever doubt me on that count, mummy, I am your daughter and remain so throughout my life."

           *****

Bharathi looked at the building. The name, "Sishu Vihar" is prominently displayed. 'So this is my first home where my parents found me' She thought. She entered into a big waiting hall. One of the doors leading to a room is named "Office Room." She opened the door and went inside. A man raised his head from the files on his table and looked at her questioningly. She cleared her throat. "I came for some information about twenty years back." He nodded. She continued, "I came to know recently that I was adopted from this orphanage. Do you have any records of my birth?"

He said, "We are faced with such requests now and then. Let me see what I can find." He went to a cupboard full of files and asked her whether she knew any details about her date of birth or date of adoption. She nodded and reaching into her handbag, gave him a slip. "15th August, 1995." He read aloud and started searching. After five minutes he took out a ledger labelled 1995. Sitting at his table, he opened it and after reaching the month of August, he raised his head and looked at her. "It is mentioned here that you were born here on 15th August and were given for adoption to one Mr Sridhar on 24th February, 1996."

She nodded and waited with a racing heart. He closed the ledger and shook his head. "Only that much, nothing else." She looked at him puzzled. "Nothing else? Nothing at all about my mother or father?" He replied in the negative. "We normally don't know those details as mostly the babies are left at the door. Even if we know, we don't keep any such information as a matter of policy."

"I came with high hopes, Sir. Any other way to find out any information at all?" 

He shook his head.

She came out and did not know what to do next. A girl came out from the office room and came to her. "I heard all about your query. I think Rangaswami may help you." Her face brightened. The girl said, "I was also raised here and now working in the office. Rangaswami was the gardener cum security here and his wife, Parvathi was an ayah. They used to live here on the premises. 4-5 years back, they left and now living with their employed daughter. I meet them often. They must be here when you were born. And may remember any details about you. They helped some persons like you earlier too."

Her face brightened. Taking the address of the couple, she thanked her. 'So this is my birthplace!' She looked around thinking to herself and left the place.

   *****

She checked the address and rang the bell and waited. It is a small apartment in a modest locality. An old man opened the door. "Mr. Rangaswami?" She enquired. He nodded and let her come in.

"My name is Bharathi. I got your address from Sishu Vihar." She then explained the purpose of her visit. He looked at her thoughtfully. "Please help me, uncle. I want to know about myself and my roots." She pleaded.

"Why do you want to know now, after all these years? What do you want to do?" She shrugged. "Just curiosity, uncle. And now I will be joining a good job. So wondering whether my parents need any help or support...." 

He smiled. "Very nice intention, child. Did you say, you were born on 15th August?" He looked at his wife sitting nearby. "Now I remember. My memory is falling nowadays but  I remember that day long back because you were the only person there who was born on our Independence day." He went on to narrate the happenings of 24 years back.

"Your father and mother served a well to do family and lived in their outhouse. Once the master and wife went abroad. One rainy night, some thieves tried to break into the house. Your father fought with them but could not stop them. They stabbed him. When your mother, who was very much pregnant, tried to come to him, he cried, "Go, run away and save our child's life."

"She hesitated but finally ran away into the darkness aimlessly. After sometime she collapsed on the road and some kind rickshaw puller brought her to Sishu Vihar. She went into labour and you were born in the early hours of next morning. That being Independence day, our chief patron came to hoist the flag and it was he who named you Bharathi."

"And my mother?" She enquired in a low tone. He shook his head. "A couple of hours after you were born, she breathed her last. My wife was with her throughout her labour and in between the spasms of her pains, she narrated her story to her." His wife nodded her head in affirmation. 

Bharathi wiped her eyes. "Thank you, uncle, thank you very much." She smiled at them. Slowly she stepped outside feeling relieved. 'So, I am not an unwanted or abandoned child. I am the daughter of a brave and loyal man who died performing his duty and a helpless woman who left her dying husband and ran away to ensure safe and secure birth to her child, that is, ME! I need not feel ashamed of my parents or my birth. I should be proud of them.' She held her head high and headed home with a light heart and renewed vigour.

     *****

Parvathi looked at Rangaswami and smiled. "Wah, what a story you weaved so effortlessly once again! How do you get new and different ideas whenever anyone approaches you to know about their birth? Really you are great." 

He looked at her. "That is the least I can do to help the confused kids who come to me enquiring about their birth. About some children I don't really remember the details. But I do remember about this girl because of that date." She nodded. "Yes, I too remember her birth. I was doubting whether you were going to tell her the real story." 

"How can I tell that poor girl that her mother was a mentally retarded beggar woman, who might not even aware who the father of her child was or anything at all about her pregnancy or childbirth, for that matter?" He shook his head. She clucked her tongue with sympathy. "Yes, that night when I showed her daughter to her, she shook her vigorously and started laughing hysterically. I was scared for the child's safety and took her away to the next room. Poor woman, by next morning she disappeared and never was seen again." She sighed.

"Anyway we should be happy for the girl whom our chief patron named, Bharathi. Did you notice that when she entered, her face was tense and sad with puffy red eyes? Poor girl, she must be crying ever since she came to know that she was an adopted child! I did not want to make her more sorrowful by telling her the truth."

"Yes, you really lifted her spirits just as you did with all the other girls and boys who came seeking your help. Keep going." She gave him an appreciative look.

OUR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

                           OUR  GOLDEN  ANNIVERSARY 

It was the 10th day of March, 1969,

Considered as auspicious for us;

The time was well past midnight,

The guests were yawning and sleepy;

Then WE GOT MARRIED.

He hailed from West Godavari,

And I from East Godavari;

He from a typical rural setup,

And I from somewhat an urban town;

He was well travelled with wide exposure,

And I grew up confined to my hometown;

Still WE  GOT MARRIED.

We did not meet or communicate;

We did not discuss our likes and dislikes;

We did not think about dating or courting;

We did not gauge our chemistry or compatibility;

We did not chalk out any terms and conditions;

We did not even look properly at each other;

Before WE  GOT MARRIED.

The present generation, eternally 

Glued to mobile phones and internet,

Facebook and Twitter and WhatsApp,

May be shocked and wonder endlessly,

Why and how WE GOT MARRIED!

My parents were impressed with the boy,

And his stable job and his decent family.

His parents approved the fairly educated girl,

From a large traditional family, ideal those days;

That's why and how WE GOT MARRIED.

We had no lofty ideals or ambitious goals,

To shape up either our lives to be spent together,

Or to guide the future of our to be born children.

And determined that we should all strive our best,

To lead compassionate, and contented lives,

We embarked on our journey with open hearts and minds,

From the day WE GOT MARRIED.

Now, after spending half a century together,

We tend to look back at all those years.

We find our own ups and downs; tiffs and tussles;

Sweet and bitter moments and memories;

And a fairly satisfying and happy companionship too;

We understand and adjust more and more with passing time,

Thankful that WE  GOT  MARRIED!